Nautical Baby Mobile

by Leslie on January 11, 2012

One of my oldest and dearest friends and all-time favorite travel companion, Kate, is having a baby boy next month. I’m so excited for their new, little family and can’t wait to meet baby Henry. In anticipation of his impending arrival, I made a nautical themed baby mobile using paper-mache ornaments I found at Anthropologie and Paper Source, two pieces of driftwood, and some twine. I love how it turned out – rustic and sweet. I hope baby Henry loves it too! Click below to see the step-by-step process.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

5 Ornaments – I found the letters (the baby’s initials), sailboat, and octopus at Anthropologie and the whale at Paper Source. Ornaments are marked way down right now, so it’s a good time to make this!

2 Pieces of Driftwood – I found mine at Dry Nature Designs, but if you are not in NYC, you can buy them online here.

STEP 1: Drill holes in driftwood. In one piece of wood drill a horizontal hole in each end (I drilled mine 2 inches from the edge). In the other piece of wood, drill a horizontal hole in each end and then one more in the middle, so three holes total. This piece of wood will become the bottom piece in the mobile.

STEP 2: Thread twine through the holes you just made and attach ornaments. Once it’s the length you like (I made mine hang down 3 inches) tie a knot and then pull the knot through the hole so it’s hidden in the wood.

STEP 3: Make a cross with the two pieces of driftwood (the piece with 3 ornaments should be on bottom). Hammer a nail through the middle to hold them in place. Be sure that your nail is long enough to go through both pieces. Also be careful not to damage your ornaments while hammering!
STEP 4: Crisscross the twine around the wood to add more support and to cover the nail. Tie it off.

STEP 5: Make 10 large loops (about 17 inches long) alternating on either side of the where the wood crosses. Towards the top wrap the twine around the loops to bring them together. When it looks the way you like, tie it off. Et voilà! You have yourself a mobile!

I just received my wonderful present in the mail. I can’t describe enough how exquisite this mobile is. It looks perfect in the nursery. My heart is warmed knowing my little Henry will be gazing up at such a a beautiful creation starting his dreams off right. Thank you my most wonderful friend.